Active Users:349 Time:17/06/2025 01:54:06 PM
Back to Messageboard Post New Thread Search Help Stats Rules
Hm Rebekah Send a noteboard - 31/07/2010 10:53:46 PM
I found it bizarre that the Pilate chapers were so good but much of the rest of the book felt like a bad translation. What was up with that? I wonder how it comes off in Russian.


I'm possibly making stuff up, but I think Tim thought that too.

I didn't.

The two bits were obviously meant to feel different - one being the story written by one of the characters in the other story.

The Pilate story is very lucid, easy to follow, and understandable. It's a retelling of a very famous story, but this time from the "bad guy's" perspective. We know what's coming with the main action, so we can focus on the character instead. (At least, that's what I thought.)

The other story is completely different. It's madcap, it's anarchic, it's fantastical and bizarre, and so far out of the realm of normal life that it's hard to follow. I think that came across perfectly in the translation I read. It wasn't meant to feel smooth and accessible.

So. It mightn't be the translation? Or it might be a combination of the two things?
*MySmiley*

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Reply to message
The Joint Book Club: Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita Rebekah - 15/07/2010 08:36:47 AM 1605 Views
Things you liked Rebekah - 15/07/2010 08:37:57 AM 1014 Views
I can barely comment at this point nossy - 15/07/2010 03:19:45 PM 1054 Views
You don't have to post only under those headings. Rebekah - 15/07/2010 04:39:36 PM 1045 Views
You contrarian you. Jacob - 16/07/2010 08:44:25 PM 1058 Views
The odd duality of humor and seriousness Jason S - 17/07/2010 05:29:28 AM 1274 Views
Yeah. Rebekah - 18/07/2010 08:46:33 PM 970 Views
Re: The odd duality of humor and seriousness aragornital - 21/07/2010 12:16:51 PM 1225 Views
The Passion interludes and Margarita's witchification and night flight. Tim - 23/07/2010 11:19:59 PM 1196 Views
Things you didn't like Rebekah - 15/07/2010 08:38:20 AM 921 Views
I'm not sure if it's the translation, Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:17:41 PM 988 Views
Ivan Bezdomny is Demyan Bedny Tom - 22/07/2010 03:03:02 AM 1084 Views
There wasn't much character-building, was there? Tim - 23/07/2010 11:26:44 PM 1115 Views
Too much crazy. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:59:46 AM 1078 Views
Things that didn't make sense to you Rebekah - 15/07/2010 08:38:54 AM 969 Views
Hm. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:19:12 PM 1139 Views
The murder of Judas. Tim - 23/07/2010 11:13:58 PM 928 Views
Does it make more sense if Aphranius is seen as... Vodalus - 26/07/2010 12:39:46 AM 885 Views
Ah. Tim - 26/07/2010 08:54:30 AM 974 Views
Interesting, I never gave that option a thought. Michael - 29/07/2010 02:54:17 PM 1102 Views
Yeah. I couldn't think of one that he would fit. Rebekah - 29/07/2010 10:35:35 PM 993 Views
See, that seemed obvious to me. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:55:02 AM 1023 Views
Oh, so that was them making up a story to tell anyone else if needed? *NM* Tim - 28/07/2010 08:29:10 AM 535 Views
Mm, not just that. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:45:58 PM 1069 Views
That's how I read it, also. Michael - 29/07/2010 09:53:17 AM 1057 Views
The walls have ears. Nobody would know that better than Aphranius and Pilate. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 07:32:09 PM 1065 Views
Wait, isn't that what happened? Tim - 31/07/2010 07:39:32 PM 1143 Views
You are right. He didn't wield the metal weapon. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:19:57 PM 1086 Views
Also, who was Koroviev supposed to be? Tim - 23/07/2010 11:44:28 PM 946 Views
Re: Also, who was Koroviev supposed to be? Vodalus - 26/07/2010 12:40:32 AM 1057 Views
may be... aragornital - 26/07/2010 03:50:48 PM 932 Views
Ooh, I hadn't thought of that. Not a bad idea. *NM* Tim - 26/07/2010 04:11:43 PM 533 Views
Ivanovich's dream. Michael - 29/07/2010 02:43:43 PM 1078 Views
Characters (ordinary) Rebekah - 15/07/2010 08:39:53 AM 985 Views
Are Russian characters always over the top? Rebekah - 15/07/2010 05:25:43 PM 880 Views
I had a hard time remembering who was who. Tim - 23/07/2010 10:18:44 PM 1128 Views
War and Peace was easier than this. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 07:38:51 PM 1036 Views
Characters (supernatural) Rebekah - 15/07/2010 08:40:36 AM 926 Views
The story of the Passion is strikingly intense. Ghavrel - 20/07/2010 07:27:26 AM 1073 Views
It is. They are my favourite bits. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:11:33 PM 957 Views
I agree – those were my favourite bits to read. Tim - 23/07/2010 10:15:55 PM 942 Views
Behemoth was hilarious. I love the idea of him being a large mischievous cat. Tim - 23/07/2010 11:22:01 PM 845 Views
He is MY cat. nossy - 28/07/2010 03:03:26 AM 1004 Views
I'm reserving a spot for my comments but not posting them just yet. Tom - 15/07/2010 03:46:34 PM 1005 Views
(I just actually posted below) *NM* Tom - 20/07/2010 05:22:00 PM 504 Views
Was wondering about that. *NM* Jacob - 20/07/2010 05:22:27 PM 517 Views
I had a very interesting conversation about the novel yesterday. Jacob - 16/07/2010 02:44:53 PM 1083 Views
That's neat. Rebekah - 18/07/2010 08:48:53 PM 985 Views
Re: I had a very interesting conversation about the novel yesterday. aragornital - 21/07/2010 12:22:28 PM 975 Views
I suspect I'm missing a hell of a lot. Tim - 23/07/2010 10:45:35 PM 1148 Views
I haven't collected my thoughts on the experience of reading the novel yet, but I wanted to share... Jacob - 16/07/2010 02:50:03 PM 1086 Views
I was slightly disappointed on my second read. Rebekah - 18/07/2010 08:48:02 PM 1108 Views
Re: I was slightly disappointed on my second read. aragornital - 21/07/2010 12:31:50 PM 1068 Views
I see that title and I think of taking up smoking... Larry - 18/07/2010 09:43:38 PM 869 Views
My thoughts Tom - 20/07/2010 04:50:06 AM 1175 Views
Does this story translate well? Jacob - 20/07/2010 06:27:50 PM 980 Views
I honestly have no clue. Tom - 20/07/2010 07:31:03 PM 1091 Views
That is what I thought you'd say. Jacob - 21/07/2010 02:04:26 PM 967 Views
About evil in this book. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:14:59 PM 892 Views
There is a Russian author who believes Margarita was Gorky's girlfriend. Tom - 22/07/2010 03:15:13 AM 1058 Views
More about evil in this book. Vodalus - 23/07/2010 02:01:40 AM 1008 Views
Aha. There's the question I was going to ask: Rebekah - 31/07/2010 10:32:17 PM 873 Views
To the devil with this. I don't care if I am showing my ignorance. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:52:54 PM 1242 Views
Any time you have a dual story, the invitation to draw parallels exists. Tom - 10/08/2010 05:56:23 PM 986 Views
For all the expressed interest, this book club discussion is languishing. *NM* Tom - 21/07/2010 02:07:23 AM 503 Views
I am trying to catch up. I've had NO time to read lately. nossy - 21/07/2010 02:58:23 AM 1071 Views
An anniversary, a birthday, and a successful job interview do tend to slow me down somewhat Larry - 21/07/2010 02:08:10 PM 930 Views
I've nearly finished. Should be done tomorrow morning. *NM* Tim - 21/07/2010 11:22:05 PM 485 Views
Vacation and all the stuff associated with it. Will try to write something, but it might be a while. *NM* Vodalus - 23/07/2010 02:03:57 AM 505 Views
Give me a day or two to catch up on things and finish the book. *NM* Legolas - 24/07/2010 11:14:17 PM 485 Views
Names. Rebekah - 21/07/2010 07:16:23 PM 1016 Views
They're not common. Tom - 22/07/2010 03:08:55 AM 1006 Views
The Damnation of Faust has been steadily moving up on my list of books to read. So many Tashmere - 26/07/2010 05:42:41 PM 978 Views
Why do you think Bulgakov chose to wait so long before introducing us to Margarita? Tim - 24/07/2010 12:05:59 AM 898 Views
I have finally started it. Tashmere - 25/07/2010 04:30:57 AM 1036 Views
Have any of you heard of The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia? Tash - 25/07/2010 09:01:30 PM 1045 Views
Unfortunately do to my eye surgery I could not participate. everynametaken - 28/07/2010 12:36:28 AM 1050 Views
I "read" it in audiobook form, in the car and on the move. Michael - 29/07/2010 02:55:50 PM 1045 Views
I wonder if having the words in front would have helped Ivanovich's dream make (more) sense. Rebekah - 29/07/2010 10:37:27 PM 829 Views
Indeed, it may have. Michael - 30/07/2010 09:06:27 AM 1544 Views
I've finished. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:39:57 AM 1000 Views
I am about 2/3 of the way through the book and it sounds like my feelings on almost all of it are Tashmere - 28/07/2010 05:48:07 AM 859 Views
Civil Rights? You do realize that Russia never imported slaves, right? Tom - 28/07/2010 01:52:12 PM 1110 Views
I thought that was so. nossy - 28/07/2010 02:53:21 PM 1096 Views
It felt like two different books.One part I felt like I was wading through a meaningless fluff. Tashmere - 31/07/2010 10:45:52 PM 994 Views
Hm Rebekah - 31/07/2010 10:53:46 PM 1045 Views
Back to Messageboard Post New Thread Search Help Stats Rules

Reply to Message

Block Quote Paragraph Quote
Formatting
Smiley Codes